What is "Waterlily" about??

[mott]

OK so what is "Waterlily" about?

I'll give my opinion first. The song is very pretty but the lyrics are really more powerful than they seem. It sounds like the song is dealing with war, the singer's lover was killed in a war, perhaps an unpopular war. Only his lover is defending what he did, all others have "forsaken" him in fighting this war nobody wanted. Even the angels.

It's an interesting song because it's sort of upbeat but very sad and melancholy. I'm tempted to get a Karine Polwart CD just to hear some other stuff she's written, and hear how she sings.

[Joe]

Hi Rich

I agree that the singer is dealing w/ the death of her lover. There is a general sadness in the lyrics.

Great job on decribing the song!!

Joe

[elizarose]

For me the song has nothing to do with a war. To me this song in a way describes my life as a friend or a loved one is singing to me. The person singing is telling the their loved one they saw all the horrible things this person has gone through that no one not even God was there to prevent or even help and still loves them and wants them to know that they are loved and beautiful and maybe if this stuff hadn't of happened they wouldn't be the person they are today. Sometimes one is abandoned and treated cruelly only to be picked up and loved by the right people so they can learn to love and to understand the world and people a little better. The person who is being sung to is now just waiting for their moment to emerge to be noticed and loved so they can realize the past doesn't have to rule them anymore. Also to me the first set of lyrics "Caught between the air... seems to be saying that in a way this person because of what they went through they are in a way still that young person and still is fresh and still has enough inexperience to want to awake.

When you been through as horrible a childhood and adolescence as I did, this song rings so true, it actually hurts. I love this song so much.

[faerie]

I kinda agree with Eliza, I think its about someone who has been going through a tough time, really tough time and has finally given up, and is ready to die. and its told by someone watching this all, maybe a freind who couldnt really get through to them I'm not so good at describing things, this is why i;m not in english. But its a really sad song, kinda reminds me of georgia lee

i found the lyrics to them

Karine Polwart Waterlily Lyrics
Caught between the air and the windless deep (exit bass)
You float like a lily flower.
And you look just like you fell to earth to sleep
And you’re waiting for your waking hour.

CHORUS
And I swear to God I saw an angel hand attend you
But that was just the dancing of the light.
No mortal or immortal did deliver or defend you.
All hands have forsaken you tonight.

Are you dreaming of a lover who will carry you away
And keep you from the crying of the crowd?
No cradle in the rushes, you are broken like the day,
With darkness all around you like a shroud.

CHORUS

When they finally surrounded you, did any of them face you?
Did you curse the silent stars above?
Those cruel arms abandoned you for water to embrace you,
Won’t you lay your head my waterlily love

CHORUS

Caught between the air and the windless deep
You float like a lily flower
And you look just like you fell to earth to sleep
And you’re waiting for your waking hour
And you’re waiting for your waking hour


oh and mott, you can find Katrine on myspace, and there you can listen to her songs, I like her voice, and her lyrics are really good and powerful

[mott]

Thanks faerie I'll look for her.

[faerie]

I found that the song waterlily was based on a book called “Cold Night Lullaby” by Colin Mackay

heres a link explaining a bit about the book,

www.chapman-pub.co.uk/book_details_cold_night_lullaby.php

Tia

[Joe]

Hi Tia,

Thanks for that info! You have really found out a lot about "Waterlily".

It's amazing what can inspire songwriters. Karine Polwart is so talented!

Thanks again Tia

Joe